Patients on a hospital ward in Nottingham were given a royal visit on Tuesday afternoon, from someone who knows just what they are going through.

Princess Eugenie of York visited Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham to meet patients who have undergone the same operation as she had at the age of 12.

During her visit to ward D34 of the Nottingham Children's Hospital, Princess Eugenie met Jayson Walker, who had an operation to correct his scoliosis last year and featured in the BBC Two ‘Hospital’ documentary in 2018.

Jayson was wearing a mini surgeon costume which was sent to him by his surgeon, Mike Grevitt for his birthday.

Kerry Walker, Jayson’s mum, said: “He loves his outfit and doesn’t want to take it off.

Princess Eugenie also spoke to some of the country’s leading spinal experts. (Image: NUH)

"It has been lovely meeting Princess Eugenie today; it is great to hear her story and is very inspirational for the children on the ward to meet her as she has had similar experiences as a child.

"You just don’t think it happens to other people other than your own flesh and blood. She is such a normal, down to earth person and it was good of her to visit Nottingham.”

Princess Eugenie was diagnosed with Scoliosis – severe curvature of the spine – in 2012 and had surgery soon after.

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HEALTH IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

At her wedding last year, she chose a wedding dress that showed the scar from her childhood spinal surgery and paid tribute to NHS staff who cared for her.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), which includes QMC, is a centre of excellence for Spinal Surgery in the UK, and is one of 12 spinal centres in the country which specialises in children’s deformity surgery.

Every year, NUH receives 1,000 deformity referrals across the country for children and young people, with 20 percent of these patients going on to have surgery.